OET interlinear PSA 124:3

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-condition-hypothetical

אֲ֭זַי

then

Here and through verse 5, the word then introduces what the consequences could have been if the condition proposed in the previous verse (if Yahweh had not been with them when their enemies attacked) had actually happened. Use a natural form in your language for introducing the consequence of this possible condition. Alternate translation: [in that case,]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

חַיִּ֣ים בְּלָע֑וּ⁠נוּ

(Some words not found in UHB: then life(pl) they,had_swallowed_us_up when,burned anger_of,their on,us )

Here David is speaking as if the enemies who could have killed all the Israelites were wild animals that could have swallowed Israel alive. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use in your translation, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [then they would have killed us all]

Note 3 topic: writing-pronouns

בְּלָע֑וּ⁠נוּ

(Some words not found in UHB: then life(pl) they,had_swallowed_us_up when,burned anger_of,their on,us )

The pronoun they refers to the enemies described as “man” in verse 2. The singular “man” has shifted to a plural pronoun here and following. It may be helpful to clarify this for your readers. Alternate translation: [then those enemies]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

בַּ⁠חֲר֖וֹת אַפָּ֣⁠ם בָּֽ⁠נוּ

(Some words not found in UHB: then life(pl) they,had_swallowed_us_up when,burned anger_of,their on,us )

David is using nose burned as a common expression of his culture to mean “to be very angry.” If this phrase does not have that meaning for your readers, you could use a comparable expression from your language that does have that meaning, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [they were fiercely angry with us]